January - Shavettes and Jeeves!
January 6
Razor - Kai Captain (pain stick)
Blade -
![[IMG]](https://theshaveden.com/forums/attachments/artist-club-small-professional-blades-jpg.182839/)
(1)
Soap - Jeeves of Hudson Street Bay Rum
Brush - Jayaruh #206
Post - Alum
Onward and forward to the final pain stick in my collection. The Kai Captain is, of course, from the biggest Japanese competitor to Feather. Like there are Feather and Kai DE blades, so there are Feather and Kai Artist Club razors. The heads on the DX and Kai Captain, while similar, are unique enough to think this was not an attempt to clone.
The heads of the DX and CJB are much more a copy of each other, or rather, a copy of the DX by CJB. The Kai is similar in length and weighs the same as the DX. Both weigh (including blade) 1.7 ounces. Out of curiosity I switched to grams and found that the Kai is 48 grams while the DX is 47, so there is a slight....and I do mean slight....advantage in weight to the Kai. I know what you're thinking....it's the "marker band" on the Kai handle. Actually, it isn't. I took it off and it still went 48 grams and the band by itself won't even register a gram on the scale. See, I do think things through.
Build and material quality on the Kai are quite good, just like the DX. The handle is a smoother profile so again it's a bit different to grip than the DX but not difficult at all. So, let's shave. Perfect Jeeves lather courtesy of the JR206 set the stage. I found the angle to be as intuitive on the Kai as the DX. Once set it was easy to hold. There was no detectable drag in the shave. The razor moved smoothly across my face and neck with no resistance beyond the normal cutting action. That's an improvement over the CJB, though again the cure to the CJB drag is just a bit slicker lather. The Kai Captain will run and gun without fuss, though, like the DX.
The razor feels balanced in my hand and the finish was the same quality DFS I've been getting from the DX and it was hassle free. Hard to say which razor has the advantage. Easy to say the Kai is a better built razor than the CJB but also easy to say the CJB does the job for less money. Kai Captains are running for $80+ on the bay and getting a bit scarce. In that regard they mirror the DX as well.
Note - there is one other Kai AC razor, the Excelia. I haven't seen one for sale in quite awhile as they were discontinued a few years ago. They are pricy but look very cool. If I find one - it will be mine. Now that I have a Toggle - I think the Excelia is my new "precious" to obtain. That and of course the true "unobtanium" of a bottom dial Fatboy.
One personal note - that concludes 5 consecutive pain stick shaves with no blood. None. All very fine DFS finishes with alum a bit warm in spots but nothing horrible at all. I'm happy with that.
Monday is upon us and with my change of store I'm back to having Monday and Tuesday as my weekend. So.....as you go back to work tomorrow....I will be sleeping in. I like that arrangement. Have a great night and a great start to your week!
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